Notice of Funds Availability

Funding Opportunity Title: Notice of Funds Availability (NOFA) inviting Applications for Financial Assistance (FA) awards or Technical Assistance (TA) grants under the Community Development Financial Institutions Program (CDFI Program) fiscal year (FY) 2022 Funding Round.

Announcement Type: Announcement of funding opportunity.

Funding Opportunity Number: CDFI-2022-FATA.

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 21.020.

Dates:

Executive Summary: Through the CDFI Program, the CDFI Fund provides (i) FA awards of up to $1 million to Certified Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) to build their financial capacity to lend to Eligible Markets and/or their Target Markets, and (ii) TA grants of up to $125,000 to build Certified, and Emerging CDFIs' organizational capacity to serve Eligible Markets and/or their Target Markets. All awards provided through this NOFA are subject to funding availability.

I. Program Description

A. History: The CDFI Fund was established by the Riegle Community Development Banking and Financial Institutions Act of 1994 to promote economic revitalization and community development through investment in and assistance to CDFIs. The CDFI Program made its first awards in 1996 and the Native American CDFI Assistance (NACA) Program made its first awards in 2002.

B. Priorities: Through the CDFI Program's FA awards and TA grants, the CDFI Fund invests in and builds the capacity of for-profit and non-profit community based lending organizations known as CDFIs. These organizations, certified as CDFIs by the CDFI Fund, serve rural and urban Low-Income people, and communities across the nation that lack adequate access to affordable Financial Products and Financial Services.

C. Authorizing Statutes and Regulations: The CDFI Program is authorized by the Riegle Community Development Banking and Financial Institutions Act of 1994 (Pub. L. 103-325, 12 U.S.C. 4701 et seq. ) (Authorizing Statute). The regulations governing the CDFI Program are found at 12 CFR parts 1805 and 1815 (the Regulations) and set forth evaluation criteria and other program requirements. The CDFI Fund encourages Applicants to review the Regulations; this NOFA; the CDFI Program Application for Financial Assistance or Technical Assistance (the Application); all related materials and guidance documents found on the CDFI Fund's website (Application materials); and the Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (2 CFR part 1000), which is the Department of the Treasury's codification of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) government-wide framework for grants management at 2 CFR part 200 (the Uniform Requirements) for a complete understanding of the program. Capitalized terms in this NOFA are defined in the Authorizing Statute, the Regulations, this NOFA, the Application, Application materials, or the Uniform Requirements. Details regarding Application content requirements are found in the Application and Application materials.

D. Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (2 CFR part 1000): The Uniform Requirements codify financial, administrative, procurement, and program management standards that Federal award agencies must follow. When evaluating Applications, awarding agencies must evaluate the risks posed by each Applicant, and each Applicant's merits and eligibility. These requirements are designed to ensure that Applicants for Federal assistance receive a fair and consistent review prior to an award decision. This review will assess items such as the Applicant's financial stability, quality of management systems, the soundness of its business plan, history of performance, ability to achieve measurable impacts through its products and services, and audit findings. In addition, the Uniform Requirements include guidance on audit requirements and other award compliance requirements for Recipients.

E. Funding limitations: The CDFI Fund reserves the right to fund, in whole or in part, any, all, or none of the Applications submitted in response to this NOFA.

II. Federal Award Information

A. Funding Availability:

1. FY 2022 Funding Round: The CDFI Fund expects to award, through this NOFA, approximately $188 million as indicated in the following table:

The CDFI Fund reserves the right to award more or less than the amounts cited above in each category, based upon available funding and other factors, as appropriate.

2. Funding Availability for the FY 2022 Funding Round: Funds for the FY 2022 Funding Round are subject to change based on passage of a final FY 2022 budget; if Congress does not appropriate funds for the CDFI Program there will not be an FY 2022 Funding Round. If funds are appropriated, the amount of such funds may be greater or less than the amounts set forth above. The CDFI Fund reserves the right to contact applicants to seek additional information in the event that final FY 2022 appropriations for the CDFI Program change any of the requirements of this NOFA. As of the date of this NOFA, the CDFI Fund is operating under a continuing funding resolution as enacted by the Further Extending Government Funding Act (Pub. L. 117-70).

3. Anticipated Start Date and Period of Performance: The Period of Performance for TA grants begins with the date of the award announcement and includes either (i) an Emerging CDFI Recipient's three full consecutive fiscal years after the date of the award announcement, or (ii) a Certified CDFI Recipient's two full consecutive fiscal years after the date of the award announcement, during which the Recipient must meet the Performance Goals and Measures (PG&Ms) set forth in the Assistance Agreement. The Period of Performance for FA awards begins with the date of the award announcement and includes a Recipient's three full consecutive fiscal years after the date of the award announcement, during which time the Recipient must meet the PG&Ms set forth in the Assistance Agreement.

B. Types of Awards: Through the CDFI Program, the CDFI Fund provides two types of awards: Financial Assistance (FA) and Technical Assistance (TA) awards. An Applicant may submit an Application for a TA grant or an FA award under the CDFI Program, but not both. FA Awards include the Base Financial Assistance (Base-FA) award and the following awards that are provided as a supplement to the Base-FA award: Healthy Food Financing Initiative-Financial Assistance (HFFI-FA), Persistent Poverty Counties-Financial Assistance (PPC-FA), and Disability Funds-Financial Assistance (DF-FA). The HFFI-FA, PPC-FA, and DF-FA Applications will be evaluated independently from the Base-FA Application, and will not affect the Base-FA Application evaluation or Base-FA award amount.

However, Applicants that qualify for the NACA Program may submit two Applications: One Application (either for a TA grant or an FA award, but not both) through the CDFI Program, and one Application (either for a TA grant or an FA award, but not both) through the NACA Program. NACA qualified Applicants that choose to apply for awards through both the CDFI Program and the NACA Program may either apply for the same type of award under each Program or for a different type of award under each Program. NACA qualified FA Applicants that choose to apply for an FA award under both the NACA Program and CDFI Program and are selected for an award under both Programs will be provided the FA award under the CDFI Program. NACA qualified TA Applicants that choose to apply for a TA award under both the NACA Program and CDFI Program and are selected for an award under both Programs will be provided the TA award under the NACA Program. NACA qualified Applicants that choose to apply for a TA award and a FA award under separate programs and are selected for an award under both Programs will be provided the larger of the two awards. NACA Applicants cannot receive an award under both Programs within the same funding round.

Category II (Core) FA Applicants applying for Base-FA, PPC-FA, and/or DF-FA must provide evidence of acceptable Matching Funds (see Table 9 for more information), except Native American CDFIs applying under this NOFA, which are exempt from the Matching Funds requirement. Native American CDFIs that qualify as a Category II (Core) FA Applicant are not required to submit Matching Funds for their award requests. Additionally, the Matching Funds requirement for HFFI-FA and SECA FA Applicants was waived in the enacted FY 2021 Consolidated Appropriations Act, and the final FY 2022 appropriations are still pending for this funding round. Therefore, HFFI-FA and SECA FA Applicants are not required to submit Matching Funds for their award requests at the time of Application. However, the CDFI Fund reserves the right to request Matching Funds from SECA FA Applicants and/or HFFI-FA Applicants if Matching Funds are not waived in the final FY 2022 CDFI Program appropriations. TA Applicants are not required to provide Matching Funds.

1. Base-FA Awards: Base-FA awards can be in the form of loans, grants, Equity Investments, deposits and credit union shares. The form of the Base-FA award is based on the form of the Matching Funds that the Applicant includes in its Application, unless Congress waived the Matching Funds requirement. The Matching Funds requirement was permanently waived for Native American CDFIs. Therefore, the Base-FA award will be in the form of a grant for Native American CDFI Applicants. Matching Funds are required at the time of Application submission for Category II (Core) Applicants (except Native American CDFIs) applying for Base-FA awards, and the CDFI Fund reserves the right to request Matching Funds from Category I (SECA) Applicants applying for Base FA awards if Matching Funds are not waived in the final FY 2022 appropriations for these Applicants. Matching Funds must be from non-Federal sources, and cannot have been used as Matching Funds for any other Federal award. The CDFI Fund reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to provide a Base-FA award in an amount other than that which the Applicant requests; however, the award amount will not exceed the Applicant's award request as stated in its Application.

2. Persistent Poverty Counties—Financial Assistance (PPC-FA) Awards: PPC-FA awards will be provided as a supplement to Base-FA awards; therefore, only those Applicants that are selected to receive a Base-FA award through the CDFI Program FY 2022 Funding Round will be eligible to receive a PPC-FA award. PPC-FA awards can be in the form of loans, grants, Equity Investment, deposits and credit union shares. The form of the PPC-FA award is based on the form of the Matching Funds that the Applicant includes in its Application, unless Congress waived the Matching Funds requirement. The Matching Funds requirement was permanently waived for Native American CDFIs. Therefore, the PPC-FA award will be in the form of a grant for Native American CDFI Applicants. Matching Funds are required at the time of Application submission for Category II (Core) Applicants (except Native American CDFIs) applying for PPC-FA awards, and the CDFI Fund reserves the right to request Matching Funds from Category I (SECA) Applicants applying for PPC-FA awards if Matching Funds are not waived in the final FY 2022 appropriations for these Applicants. Matching Funds must be from non-Federal sources, and cannot have been used as Matching Funds for any other Federal award. The CDFI Fund reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to provide a PPC-FA award in an amount other than that which the Applicant requests; however, the award amount will not exceed the Applicant's award request as stated in its Application.

3. Disability Funds—Financial Assistance (DF-FA) Awards: DF-FA awards will be provided as a supplement to Base-FA awards; therefore, only those Applicants that have been selected to receive a Base-FA award through the CDFI Program FY 2022 Funding Round will be eligible to receive a DF-FA award. DF-FA awards can be in the form of loans, grants, Equity Investments, deposits and credit union shares. The form of the DF-FA award is based on the form of the Matching Funds that the Applicant includes in its Application, unless Congress waived the Matching Funds requirement. The Matching Funds requirement was permanently waived for Native American CDFIs. Therefore, the DF-FA award will be in the form of a grant for Native American CDFI Applicants. Matching Funds are required for Category II (Core) Applicants (except Native American CDFIs) applying for DF-FA awards, and the CDFI Fund reserves the right to request Matching Funds from Category I (SECA) Applicants applying for PPC-FA awards if Matching Funds are not waived in the final FY 2022 appropriations for these Applicants. Matching Funds must be from non-Federal sources, and cannot have been used as Matching Funds for any other Federal award. The CDFI Fund reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to provide a DF-FA award in an amount other than that which the Applicant requests; however, the award amount will not exceed the Applicant's award request as stated in its Application.

4. Healthy Food Financing Initiative—Financial Assistance (HFFI-FA) Awards: HFFI-FA awards will be provided as a supplement to Base-FA awards; therefore, only those Applicants that have been selected to receive a Base-FA award through the CDFI Program FY 2022 Funding Round will be eligible to receive an HFFI-FA award. HFFI-FA awards can be in the form of loans, grants, Equity Investments, deposits and credit union shares. The form of the HFFI-FA award is based on the form of the Matching Funds that the Applicant includes in its Application, unless Congress waived the Matching Funds requirement. The Matching Funds requirement was permanently waived for Native American CDFIs. Therefore, HFFI-FA awards will be in the form of a grant for Native American CDFI Applicants. The Matching Funds requirement for HFFI-FA Applicants was waived in the final appropriations bill for FY 2021, and the final appropriations are still pending for this funding round. As a result, HFFI-FA Applicants are not required to submit Matching Funds for their award requests at the time of Application. However, the CDFI Fund reserves the right to request Matching Funds from HFFI-FA Applicants if Matching Funds are not waived in the final FY 2022 CDFI Program appropriations. The CDFI Fund reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to provide an HFFI-FA award in an amount other than that which the Applicant requests; however, the award amount will not exceed the Applicant's award request as stated in its Application.

5. TA Grants: TA is provided in the form of grants. The CDFI Fund reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to provide a TA grant in an amount other than that which the Applicant requests; however, the TA grant amount will not exceed the Applicant's request as stated in its Application.

C. Eligible Activities:

1. FA Awards: Base-FA, PPC-FA, DF-FA, and HFFI-FA award funds may be expended for activities serving Commercial Real Estate, Small Business, Microenterprise, Community Facilities, Consumer Financial Products, Consumer Financial Services, Commercial Financial Products, Commercial Financial Services, Affordable Housing, Intermediary Lending to Non-Profits and CDFIs, and other lines of business as deemed appropriate by the CDFI Fund in the following five categories: (i) Financial Products; (ii) Financial Services; (iii) Loan Loss Reserves; (iv) Development Services; and (v) Capital Reserves. The FA Budget is the amount of the award and must be expended in the five eligible activity categories prior to the end of the Budget Period. None of the eligible activity categories will be authorized for Indirect Costs or an associated Indirect Cost Rate. Base-FA Recipients must meet PG&Ms, which will be derived from projections and attestations provided by the Applicant in its Application, to achieve one or more of the following FA Objectives: (i) Increase Volume of Financial Products in an Eligible Market(s) and/or in the Applicant's approved Target Market and/or Increase Volume of Financial Services in an Eligible Market(s) and/or in the Applicant's approved Target Market; (ii) Serve Eligible Market(s) or the Applicant's approved Target Market in New Geographic Area or Areas; (iii) Provide New Financial Products in an Eligible Market(s) and/or in the Applicant's approved Target Market, Provide New Financial Services in an Eligible Market(s) and/or in the Applicant's approved Target Market, or Provide New Development Services in an Eligible Market(s) and/or in the Applicant's approved Target Market; and (iv) Serve New Targeted Population or Populations. FA awards may only be used for Direct Costs associated with an eligible activity; no indirect expenses are allowed. Up to 15% of the FA award may be used for Direct Administrative Expenses associated with an eligible FA activity. “Direct Administrative Expenses” shall mean Direct Costs, as described in section 2 CFR 200.413 of the Uniform Requirements, which are incurred by the Recipient to carry out the Financial Assistance. Direct Costs incurred to provide Development Services or Financial Services do not constitute Direct Administrative Expenses.

The Recipient must comply, as applicable, with the Buy American Act of 1933, 41 U.S.C. 8301-8303 and section 2 CFR 200.216 of the Uniform Requirements, with respect to any Direct Costs. For purposes of this NOFA, the five eligible activity categories are defined below:

2. DF-FA Award: DF-FA award funds may only be expended for eligible FA activities (referenced in Table 3) to directly or indirectly benefit individuals with disabilities. The DF-FA Recipient must close Financial Products for the primary purpose of directly or indirectly benefiting people with disabilities, where the majority of the DF-FA supported loans or investments benefit individuals with disabilities, in an amount equal to or greater than 85% of the total DF-FA provided. Eligible DF-FA financing activities may include, among other activities, loans to develop or purchase affordable, accessible, and safe housing; loans to provide or facilitate employment opportunities; and loans to purchase assistive technology.

For the purposes of DF-FA, a person with a Disability is a person who has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, a person who has a history or record of such an impairment, or a person who is perceived by others as having such an impairment, as defined by the American Disabilities Act (ADA) at https://www.ada.gov/cguide.htm.

3. TA Grants: TA grant funds may be expended for the following seven eligible activity categories: (i) Compensation—Personal Services; (ii) Compensation—Fringe Benefits; (iii) Professional Service Costs; (iv) Travel Costs; (v) Training and Education Costs; (vi) Equipment; and (vii) Supplies. The TA Budget is the amount of the award and must be expended in the eight eligible activity categories before the end of the Budget Period. None of the eligible activity categories will be authorized for Indirect Costs or an associated Indirect Cost Rate. Any expenses that are prohibited by the Uniform Requirements are unallowable and are generally found in Subpart E—Cost Principles. The Recipient must comply, as applicable, with the Buy American Act of 1933, 41 U.S.C. 8301-8303 and section 2 CFR 200.216 of the Uniform Requirements, with respect to any Direct Costs. For purposes of this NOFA, the eight eligible activity categories are defined below:

4. HFFI-FA Award: HFFI-FA award funds may only be expended for eligible FA activities referenced in Table 3. The HFFI-FA investments must comply with the following guidelines:

a. Recipient must close Financial Products for Healthy Food Retail Outlets and Healthy Food Non-Retail Outlets in its approved Target Market in an amount equal to or greater than 100% of the total HFFI Financial Assistance provided. Eligible financing activities to Healthy Food Retail Outlets and Healthy Food Non-Retail Outlets require that the majority of the loan or investment be devoted to offering a range of Healthy Food choices, which may include, among other activities, investments supporting an existing retail store or wholesale operation upgrade to offer an expanded range of Healthy Food choices, or supporting a nonprofit organization that expands the availability of Healthy Foods in underserved areas.

b. Recipient must demonstrate that it has closed Financial Products to Healthy Food Retail Outlets located in Food Deserts in the Recipient's approved Target Market in an amount equal to 75% of the total HFFI Financial Assistance provided.

Definitions:

Healthy Foods: Healthy Foods include unprepared nutrient-dense foods and beverages as set forth in the USDA Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2020-2025 including whole fruits and vegetables, whole grains, fat free or low-fat dairy foods, lean meats and poultry (fresh, refrigerated, frozen or canned). Healthy Foods should have low or no added sugars, and be low-sodium, reduced sodium, or no-salt-added. (See USDA Dietary Guidelines: http://www.dietaryguidelines.gov ).

Healthy Food Retail Outlets: Commercial sellers of Healthy Foods including, but not limited to, grocery stores, mobile food retailers, farmers markets, retail cooperatives, corner stores, bodegas, stores that sell other food and non-food items along with a range of Healthy Foods.

Healthy Food Non-Retail Outlets: Wholesalers of Healthy Foods including, but not limited to, wholesale food outlets, wholesale cooperatives, or other non-retail food producers that supply for sale a range of Healthy Food options; entities that produce or distribute Healthy Foods for eventual retail sale, and entities that provide consumer education regarding the consumption of Healthy Foods.

Food Deserts: Distressed geographic areas where either a substantial number or share of residents has low access to a supermarket or large grocery store. For the purpose of satisfying this requirement, a Food Desert must either: (1) Be a census tract determined to be a Food Desert by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), in its USDA Food Access Research Atlas; (2) be a census tract adjacent to a census tract determined to be a Food Desert by the USDA, in its USDA Food Access Research Atlas; which has a median family income less than or equal to 120% of the applicable Area Median Family Income; or (3) be a Geographic Unit as defined in 12 CFR part 1805.201(b)(3)(ii)(B), which (i) individually meets at least one of the criteria in 12 CFR part 1805.201(b)(3)(ii)(D), and (ii) has been identified as having low access to a supermarket or grocery store through a methodology that has been adopted for use by another governmental or philanthropic healthy food initiative.

5. PPC-FA Award: PPC-FA award funds may only be expended for eligible FA activities referenced in Table 3. The PPC-FA Recipient must close Financial Products in PPC in an Eligible Market or in the Applicant's approved Target Market in an amount equal to or greater than 100% of the total PPC Financial Assistance provided. The specific counties that meet the criteria for “persistent poverty” can be found at: https://www.cdfifund.gov/sites/cdfi/files/documents/cdfi-ppc-feb19-2020.xls.

III. Eligibility Information

A. Eligible Applicants: For the purposes of this NOFA, the following tables set forth the eligibility criteria to receive an award from the CDFI Fund, along with certain definitions of terms. There are four categories of Applicant eligibility criteria: (1) CDFI certification criteria (Table 5); (2) requirements that apply to all Applicants (Table 6); (3) requirements that apply to TA Applicants (Table 7); and (4) requirements that apply to FA Applicants (Table 8).

B. Matching Funds Requirements: In order to receive a Base-FA, PPC-FA, or DF-FA award, an Applicant must provide evidence of eligible dollar-for-dollar Matching Funds and attest that it can provide acceptable documentation upon the CDFI Fund's request as part of the Application, unless Congress waived the Matching Funds requirement. The Matching Funds requirement was permanently waived for Native American CDFIs. Therefore, Native American CDFI Applicants are not required to submit Matching Funds for their award requests. The Matching Funds requirement was waived for Category I (SECA) FA Applicants and HFFI-FA Applicants in the final appropriations bill for FY 2021, and the final FY 2022 appropriations are still pending for this funding round. As a result, Category I (SECA) FA Applicants and HFFI-FA Applicants are not required to submit Matching Funds for their award requests at the time of Application. However, the CDFI Fund reserves the right to request Matching Funds from Category I (SECA) FA Applicants and HFFI-FA Applicants if Matching Funds are not waived in the final FY 2022 CDFI Program appropriations. An Applicant that represents that it has Equity Investments and/or deposits Matching Funds In-Hand at the time of Application submission must provide documentation of such as part of the Application (or for Category I (SECA) FA and HFFI-FA Applicants, upon request if applicable). An Applicant that uses retained earnings as Matching Funds must provide supporting documentation of In-Hand and/or Committed Matching Funds at the time of Application submission. The CDFI Fund will review Matching Funds information, attestations, and supporting Matching Funds documentation, if applicable, prior to award payment and will disburse funds based upon eligible In-Hand Matching Funds. The CDFI Fund encourages Applicants to review the Regulations, the Uniform Requirements, and the Matching Funds guidance materials available on the CDFI Fund's website. Table 9 provides a summary of the Matching Funds requirements for Applicants for whom Matching Funds are required. The Matching Funds requirement for Native American CDFIs is permanently waived. Additional details are set forth in the Application materials.

IV. Application and Submission Information

A. Address to Request an Application Package: Application materials can be found on the CDFI Fund's website at www.cdfifund.gov/cdfi. Applicants may request a paper version of any Application material by contacting the CDFI Fund Help Desk at cdfihelp@cdfi.treas.gov. Paper versions of Application materials will only be provided if an Applicant cannot access the CDFI Fund's website.

B. Content and Form of Application Submission: All Applications must be prepared using the English language, and calculations must be computed in U.S. dollars. The following table lists the Required Application Documents for the FY 2022 Funding Round. The CDFI Fund reserves the right to request and review other pertinent or public information that has not been specifically requested in this NOFA or the Application. Information submitted by the Applicant that the CDFI Fund has not specifically requested will not be reviewed or considered as part of the Application. Financial data, portfolio, and activity information provided in the Application should only include the Applicant's activities. Information submitted must accurately reflect the Applicant's activities.

C. Application Submission: The CDFI Fund has a two-step process that requires the submission of Required Application Documents (listed in Table 10) on separate deadlines and locations. The SF-424 must be submitted through Grants.gov and all other Required Application Documents through the AMIS portal. The CDFI Fund will not accept Applications via email, mail, facsimile, or other forms of communication, except in extremely rare circumstances that have been pre-approved in writing by the CDFI Fund. The deadline for submitting the SF-424 is listed in Tables 1 and 12.

All Applicants must register in the Grants.gov system to successfully submit the SF-424. The Grants.gov registration process can take 45 days or longer to complete and the CDFI Fund strongly encourages Applicants to start the Grants.gov registration process as early as possible (refer to the following link: http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/register.html ). Since the Grants.gov registration process requires Applicants to have DUNS and EIN numbers, Applicants without these required numbers should allow for additional time to complete the Grants.gov registration process. Further, as described in Section IV. (E) of this NOFA, new requirements for registration in the System for Awards Management (SAM), which is required as part of the Grants.gov registration process, may take more time than in recent years. The CDFI Fund will not extend the Application deadline for any Applicant that started the Grants.gov registration process but did not complete it by the deadline. An Applicant that has previously registered with Grants.gov must verify that its registration is current and active. Applicants should contact Grants.gov directly with questions related to the registration or submission process as the CDFI Fund does not maintain the Grants.gov system.

Each Application must be signed by a designated Authorized Representative in AMIS before it can be submitted. Applicants must ensure that an Authorized Representative is an employee or officer and is authorized to sign legal documents on behalf of the Applicant. Consultants working on behalf of the Applicant may not be designated as Authorized Representatives. Only a designated Authorized Representative or Application Point of Contact, included in the Application, may submit the Application in AMIS. If an Authorized Representative or Application Point of Contact does not submit the Application, the Application will be deemed ineligible.

D. Dun & Bradstreet Universal Numbering System: Pursuant to the Uniform Requirements, each Applicant must provide as part of its Application submission, a Dun and Bradstreet Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number. Applicants without a DUNS number will not be able to register and submit an Application in the Grants.gov system. Allow sufficient time for Dun & Bradstreet to respond to inquiries and/or requests for DUNS numbers.

E. System for Award Management (SAM): Any entity applying for Federal grants or other forms of Federal financial assistance through Grants.gov must be registered in SAM before submitting its Application. Registration in SAM is required as part of the Grants.gov registration process. The SAM registration process may take one month or longer to complete. A signed notarized letter identifying the SAM authorized entity administrator for the entity associated with the DUNS number is required. This requirement is applicable to new entities registering in SAM, as well as to existing entities with registrations being updated or renewed in SAM. Applicants without DUNS and/or EIN numbers should allow for additional time as an Applicant cannot register in SAM without those required numbers. Applicants that have previously completed the SAM registration process must verify that their SAM accounts are current and active. Each Applicant must continue to maintain an active SAM registration with current information at all times during which it has an active Federal award or an Application under consideration by a Federal awarding agency. The CDFI Fund will deem ineligible any Applicant that fails to properly register or activate its SAM account and, as a result, is unable to submit the SF-424 in Grants.gov or Application in AMIS by the applicable Application deadlines. These restrictions also apply to organizations that have not yet received a DUNS or EIN number. Applicants must contact SAM directly with questions related to registration or SAM account changes as the CDFI Fund does not maintain this system and has no ability to make changes or correct errors of any kind. For more information about SAM, visit https://www.sam.gov.

F. Submission Dates and Times:

1. Submission Deadlines: The following table provides the critical deadlines for the FY 2022 Funding Round.

2. Confirmation of Application Submission in Grants.gov and AMIS: Applicants are required to submit the SF-424, Application for Federal Assistance through the Grants.gov system, under the CDFI Program Funding Opportunity Number by the applicable deadline. All other Required Application Documents (listed in Table 10) must be submitted through the AMIS website by the applicable deadline. Applicants must submit the SF-424 prior to submitting the Application in AMIS. If the SF-424 is not successfully accepted by Grants.gov by the deadline, the CDFI Fund will not review the Application submitted in AMIS, and the Application will be deemed ineligible.

a. Grants.gov Submission Information: Each Applicant will receive an email from Grants.gov immediately after submitting the SF-424 confirming that the submission has entered the Grants.gov system. This email will contain a tracking number for the submitted SF-424. Within 48 hours, the Applicant will receive a second email, which will indicate if the submitted SF-424 was either successfully validated or rejected with errors. However, Applicants should not rely on the email notification from Grants.gov to confirm that their SF-424 was validated. Applicants are strongly encouraged to use the tracking number provided in the first email to closely monitor the status of their SF-424 by contacting the helpdesk at Grants.gov directly. The Application material submitted in AMIS is not officially accepted by the CDFI Fund until Grants.gov has validated the SF-424.

b. AMIS Submission Information: AMIS is a web-based portal where Applicants will directly enter their Application information and add the required attachments listed in Table 10. AMIS will verify that the Applicant provided the minimum information required to submit an Application. Applicants are responsible for the quality and accuracy of the information and attachments included in the Application submitted in AMIS. The CDFI Fund strongly encourages Applicants to allow for sufficient time to review and complete all Required Application Documents listed in Table 10, and remedy any issues prior to the Application deadline. Each Application must be signed by an Authorized Representative in AMIS before it can be submitted. Applicants must ensure that the Authorized Representative is an employee or officer and is authorized to sign legal documents on behalf of the Applicant. Consultants working on behalf of the Applicant may not be designated as Authorized Representatives. Only an Authorized Representative or an Application Point of Contact may submit an Application. If an Authorized Representative or Application Point of Contact does not submit the Application, the Application will be deemed ineligible. Applicants may only submit one Base-FA or TA Application under the CDFI Program. Upon submission, the Application will be locked and cannot be resubmitted, edited, or modified in any way. The CDFI Fund will not unlock or allow multiple Application submissions.

3. Late Submission or AMIS Account Creation: The CDFI Fund will not accept an Application if the SF-424 is not submitted and accepted by Grants.gov by the SF-424 deadline listed in Table 1 and Table 12. Additionally, the CDFI Fund will not accept an Application if it is not signed by an Authorized Representative and submitted in AMIS by the Application deadline listed in Table 1 and Table 12. The CDFI Fund will also not accept an Application from an Applicant that failed to create an AMIS account by the deadlines specified in Table 1 and Table 12. In these cases, the CDFI Fund will not review any material submitted, and the Application will be deemed ineligible. However, in cases where a Federal government administrative or technological error directly resulted in precluding an Applicant from submitting the SF-424, the Application, or creating an AMIS account by the deadlines stated in this NOFA, Applicants are provided the opportunity to submit a written request for acceptance of late submissions. The CDFI Fund will not consider the late submission of the SF-424, the Application, or the late creation of an AMIS account that was a direct result of a delay in a Federal Government process, unless such delay was the result of a Federal government administrative or technological error.

a. Creation of AMIS Account: In cases where a Federal government administrative or technological error directly resulted in precluding an Applicant from creating an AMIS account by the required deadline, the Applicant must submit a written request for approval to create its AMIS account after the deadline, and include documentation of the error, no later than two business days after the AMIS account creation deadline. The CDFI Fund will not respond to requests for creating an AMIS account after that time. Applicants must submit such request via an AMIS Service Request to the CDFI Program or an email to cdfihelp@cdfi.treas.gov with a subject line of “AMIS Account Creation Deadline Extension Request.”

b. SF-424 Late Submission: In cases where a Federal government administrative or technological error directly resulted in precluding an Applicant from submitting the SF-424 by the required deadline, the Applicant must submit a written request for acceptance of the late SF-424 submission and include documentation of the error no later than two business days after the SF-424 deadline. The CDFI Fund will not respond to requests for acceptance of late SF-424 submissions after that time period. Applicants must submit late SF-424 submission requests to the CDFI Fund via an AMIS Service Request to the CDFI Program with a subject line of “Late SF-424 Submission Request.”

c. Application Late Submission: In cases where a Federal government administrative or technological error directly resulted in precluding an Applicant from submitting the Application in AMIS by the required deadline, the Applicant must submit a written request for acceptance of the late Application submission and include documentation of the error no later than two business days after the Application deadline. The CDFI Fund will not respond to requests for acceptance of late Application submissions after that time period. Applicants must submit late Application submission requests to the CDFI Fund via an AMIS Service Request to the CDFI Program with a subject line of “Late Application Submission Request.”

G. Funding Restrictions: Base-FA, PPC-FA, DF-FA, HFFI-FA and TA awards are limited by the following:

1. Base-FA Awards:

a. A Recipient shall use Base-FA funds only for the eligible activities described in Section II. (C)(1) of this NOFA and its Assistance Agreement.

b. With the exception of Depository Institution Holding Company Applicants, Base-FA awards may not be used to support the activities of, or otherwise be passed through, transferred, or co-awarded to, third-party entities, whether Affiliates, Subsidiaries, or others, unless done pursuant to a merger or acquisition or similar transaction, and with the CDFI Fund's prior written consent.

c. Base-FA funds shall only be paid to the Recipient.

d. The CDFI Fund, in its sole discretion, may pay Base-FA funds in amounts, or under terms and conditions, which are different from those requested by an Applicant.

e. The Recipient must comply, as applicable, with the Buy American Act of 1933, 41 U.S.C. 8301-8303 and section 2 CFR 200.216 of the Uniform Requirements, with respect to any Direct Costs.

2. PPC-FA Awards:

a. A Recipient shall use PPC-FA funds only for the eligible activities described in Section II. (C)(5) of this NOFA and its Assistance Agreement.

b. With the exception of Depository Institution Holding Company Applicants, PPC-FA awards may not be used to support the activities of, or otherwise be passed through, transferred, or co-awarded to, third-party entities, whether Affiliates, Subsidiaries, or others, unless done pursuant to a merger or acquisition or similar transaction, and with the CDFI Fund's prior written consent.

c. PPC-FA funds shall only be paid to the Recipient.

d. The CDFI Fund, in its sole discretion, may pay PPC-FA funds in amounts, or under terms and conditions, which are different from those requested by an Applicant.

e. The Recipient must comply, as applicable, with the Buy American Act of 1933, 41 U.S.C. 8301-8303 and section 2 CFR 200.216 of the Uniform Requirements, with respect to any Direct Costs.

3. DF-FA Awards:

a. A Recipient shall use DF-FA funds only for the eligible activities described in Section II. (C)(2) of this NOFA and its Assistance Agreement.

b. With the exception of Depository Institution Holding Company Applicants, DF-FA awards may not be used to support the activities of, or otherwise be passed through, transferred, or co-awarded to, third-party entities, whether Affiliates, Subsidiaries, or others, unless done pursuant to a merger or acquisition or similar transaction, and with the CDFI Fund's prior written consent.

c. DF-FA funds shall only be paid to the Recipient.

d. The CDFI Fund, in its sole discretion, may pay DF-FA funds in amounts, or under terms and conditions, which are different from those requested by an Applicant.

e. The Recipient must comply, as applicable, with the Buy American Act of 1933, 41 U.S.C. 8301-8303 and section 2 CFR 200.216 of the Uniform Requirements, with respect to any Direct Costs.

4. HFFI-FA Awards:

a. A Recipient shall use HFFI-FA funds only for the eligible activities described in Section II. (C)(4) of this NOFA and its Assistance Agreement.

b. With the exception of Depository Institution Holding Company Applicants, HFFI-FA awards may not be used to support the activities of, or otherwise be passed through, transferred, or co-awarded to, third-party entities, whether Affiliates, Subsidiaries, or others, unless done pursuant to a merger or acquisition or similar transaction, and with the CDFI Fund's prior written consent.

c. HFFI-FA funds shall only be paid to the Recipient.

d. The CDFI Fund, in its sole discretion, may pay HFFI-FA funds in amounts, or under terms and conditions, which are different from those requested by an Applicant.

e. The Recipient must comply, as applicable, with the Buy American Act of 1933, 41 U.S.C. 8301-8303 and section 2 CFR 200.216 of the Uniform Requirements, with respect to any Direct Costs.

5. TA Grants:

a. A Recipient shall use TA funds only for the eligible activities described in Section II. (C) (3) of this NOFA and its Assistance Agreement.

b. With the exception of Depository Institution Holding Company Applicants, TA awards may not be used to support the activities of, or otherwise be passed through, transferred, or co-awarded to, third-party entities, whether Affiliates, Subsidiaries, or others, unless done pursuant to a merger or acquisition or similar transaction, and with the CDFI Fund's prior written consent.

c. TA funds shall only be paid to the Recipient.

d. The CDFI Fund, in its sole discretion, may pay TA funds in amounts, or under terms and conditions, which are different from those requested by an Applicant.

e. The Recipient must comply, as applicable, with the Buy American Act of 1933, 41 U.S.C. 8301-8303 and section 2 CFR 200.216 of the Uniform Requirements, with respect to any Direct Costs.

V. Application Review Information

A. Criteria: If the Applicant has submitted an eligible Application, the CDFI Fund will conduct a substantive review in accordance with the criteria and procedures described in the Regulations, this NOFA, the Application guidance, and the Uniform Requirements. The CDFI Fund reserves the right to contact the Applicant by telephone, email, or mail for the purpose of clarifying or confirming Application information. If contacted, the Applicant must respond within the time period communicated by the CDFI Fund or risk that its Application will be rejected. The CDFI Fund will review the Base-FA, DF-FA, PPC-FA, HFFI-FA, and TA Applications in accordance with the process below. All internal and external reviewers will complete the CDFI Fund's conflict of interest process. The CDFI Fund's Application conflict of interest policy is located on the CDFI Fund's website.

1. Base-FA Application Scoring, Award Selection, Review, and Selection Process: The CDFI Fund will evaluate each Application using a five-step review process illustrated in the sections below. Applicants that meet the minimum criteria will advance to the next step in the review process. Applicants applying as a Community Partnership must describe the partnership in the Application pursuant to the requirements set forth in Table 8, and will be evaluated in accordance with the review process described below.

a. Step 1: Eligibility Review: The CDFI Fund will evaluate each Application to determine its eligibility status pursuant to Section III of this NOFA.

b. Step 2: Financial Analysis and Compliance Risk Evaluation:

i. Step 2: Financial Analysis: For Regulated Institutions, the CDFI Fund will consider financial safety and soundness information from the Appropriate Federal or State Banking Agency. As detailed in Table 8, each Regulated Institution FA Applicant (including a subsidiary Depository Institution that will expend and carry out the activities of an award on behalf of a Depository Institution Holding Company Applicant) must have a CAMELS/CAMEL rating of at least “3” and/or no significant material concerns from its regulator.

For non-regulated Applicants, the CDFI Fund will evaluate the financial health and viability of each non-regulated Applicant using financial information provided by the Applicant. For the Financial Analysis, each non-regulated Applicant will receive a Total Financial Composite Score on a scale of one (1) to five (5), with one (1) being the highest rating. The Total Financial Composite Score is based on the analysis of twenty-three (23) financial indicators. Applications will be grouped based on the Total Financial Composite Score. Applicants must receive a Total Financial Composite Score of one (1), two (2), or three (3) to advance to Step 3. Applicants that receive an initial Total Financial Composite Score of four (4) or five (5) will be re-evaluated and re-scored by CDFI Fund staff. If the Total Financial Composite Score remains four (4) or five (5) after CDFI Fund staff review, the Applicant will not advance to Step 3.

ii. Step 2: Compliance Risk Evaluation: For the compliance analysis, the CDFI Fund will evaluate the compliance risk of each Applicant using information provided in the Application as well as an Applicant's reporting history, reporting capacity, and performance risk with respect to the CDFI Fund's PG&Ms. Each Applicant will receive a Total Compliance Composite Score on a scale of one (1) to five (5), with one (1) being the highest rating. Applicants that receive an initial Total Compliance Composite Score of four (4) or five (5) will be re-evaluated by CDFI Fund staff. If the Applicant is deemed a high compliance risk after CDFI Fund staff review, the Applicant will not advance to Step 3.

c. Step 3: Business Plan Review: Applicants that proceed to Step 3 will be evaluated on the soundness of their comprehensive business plan. Two external non-CDFI Fund Reviewers will conduct the Step 3 evaluation. Reviewers will evaluate the Application sections listed in Table 13. All Applications will be reviewed in accordance with standard reviewer evaluation materials. Applications will be ranked based on Total Business Plan Scores, in descending order. In order to advance to Step 4, Applicants must receive a Total Business Plan Score that is either (1) equal to receiving a point score equivalent to a “Good” out of a ranking scale in descending order of Excellent, Good, Fair, Limited or Poor, in each section listed in Table 13, or (2) within the top 60% of the Core Applicant pool for Core Applicants or within the top 70% of the SECA Applicant pool for SECA Applicants, whichever is greater. In the case of tied Total Business Plan Scores that would prevent an Applicant from moving to Step 4, all Applicants with the same score will progress to Step 4. Lastly, the CDFI Fund may consider the geographic diversity of Applicants when determining the Step 4 Applicant pool.

d. Step 4: Policy Objective Review: The CDFI Fund internal reviewers will evaluate each Application to determine its ability to meet policy objectives of the CDFI Fund. Each Applicant will be evaluated in each of the categories listed in Table 14 below, and will receive a Total Policy Objective Review Composite Score on a scale of one (1) to five (5), with one (1) being the highest score. Applicants are then grouped according to Total Policy Objective Review Scores.

The CDFI Fund also conducts a due diligence review for Applications that includes an analysis of programmatic risk factors including, but not limited to: History of performance in managing Federal awards (including timeliness of reporting and compliance); ability to meet FA Objective(s) selected by Base-FA Applicants in their Applications; reports and findings from audits; and the Applicant's ability to effectively implement Federal requirements, each of which could impact the Total Policy Objective Review Score.

e. Step 5: Award Amount Determination: The CDFI Fund determines an award amount for each Application based on the Step 4 Total Policy Objective Review Score, the Applicant's request amount, and on certain other factors, including but not limited to, the Applicant's deployment track record, minimum award size, and funding availability. Applicants may have Award amounts reduced from the requested award amount or not funded as a result of this analysis. Based on funding availability for Core, SECA, and/or NACA Base-FA Applicant types, the CDFI Fund reserves the right to not award all Applicants that advance to Step 5. In cases where funding availability is not sufficient to award all Applications, priority will be given to Applicants that score highest on the Step 4 Policy Objective review in each Applicant type Category (Core, SECA and/or NACA). For Core FA Applicants, the award cannot exceed 30% of the Applicant's total portfolio outstanding as of the Applicant's most recent historic fiscal year end. For SECA FA Applicants, the award cannot exceed 75% of the Applicant's total portfolio outstanding as of the Applicant's most recent historic fiscal year end, or the minimum award size as noted in Table 2, whichever is greater.

2. Healthy Food Financing Initiative-FA (HFFI-FA) Application Scoring, Award Selection, Review, and Selection Process: A CDFI Fund internal reviewer will evaluate each HFFI-FA Application associated with a Base-FA Application that progresses to Step 4 of the FA Application review process. The reviewer will evaluate the Application sections listed in Table 15 and assign a Total HFFI-FA Score up to 60 points. The CDFI Fund will make awards to the highest scoring Applicants first. All Applications will be reviewed in accordance with standard reviewer evaluation materials. Applicants that fail to receive a Base-FA award will not be considered for a HFFI-FA award.

The CDFI Fund conducts additional levels of due diligence for Applications that are under consideration for an HFFI-FA award. Award amounts may be reduced from the requested award amount as a result of this analysis. The CDFI Fund may reduce awards sizes from requested amounts based on certain variables, including but not limited to, an Applicant's loan disbursement activity, total portfolio outstanding, or compliance with prior HFFI-FA awards. Lastly, the CDFI Fund may consider the geographic diversity of Applicants when making its funding decisions.

3. Persistent Poverty Counties—Financial Assistance (PPC-FA) Application Scoring, Award Selection, Review, and Selection Process: A CDFI Fund internal reviewer will evaluate the PPC-FA request of each associated Base-FA Application that progresses to Step 4 of the FA Application review process. PPC-FA requests are not scored. PPC-FA award amounts will be determined based on the total number of eligible Applicants and funding availability, the Applicant's requested amount, and on certain factors, including but not limited to, an Applicant's overall portfolio size, historical track record of deployment in PPC, pipeline of projects in PPC, minimum award size, and funding availability. Applicants that fail to receive a Base-FA award will not be considered for a PPC-FA award.

4. Disability Funds-Financial Assistance (DF-FA) Application Scoring, Award Selection, Review, and Selection Process: A CDFI Fund internal reviewer will evaluate each DF-FA Application associated with a Base-FA Application that progresses to Step 4 of the FA Application review process. The reviewer will evaluate the Application and assign a Total DF-FA Score on a scale of one (1) to three (3), with one (1) being the highest score. Applicants are then grouped according to Total DF-FA Score. All Applications will be reviewed in accordance with standard reviewer evaluation materials. Applicants that fail to receive a Base-FA award will not be considered for a DF-FA award. Award amounts will be determined on the basis of the Total DF-FA Score, the Applicant's requested amount, and on certain factors, including but not limited to, an Applicant's deployment track record, minimum award size, and funding availability. Award amounts may be reduced from the requested award amount as a result of this analysis. The CDFI Fund will make awards to the highest scoring Applicants first.

5. Technical Assistance (TA) Application Scoring, Award Selection, Review, and Selection Process: The CDFI Fund will evaluate each Application to determine its eligibility pursuant to Section III of this NOFA. If the Application satisfies the eligibility criteria, the CDFI Fund will evaluate the TA Application. Emerging CDFI Applicants must receive a rating of Low Risk or Medium Risk in Section I of the TA Business Plan Review to progress to Section II of the TA Business Plan Review. Emerging CDFI Applicants that receive a rating of High Risk in Section I of the TA Business Plan Review will not be considered for an award. Section I of the TA Business Plan Review is not applicable for Certified CDFI Applicants. Emerging CDFI and Certified CDFI Applicants must receive a rating of Low Risk or Medium Risk in Section II of the TA Business Plan Review to be considered for an award. Applicants that receive a rating of High Risk in Section II of the TA Business Plan Review will not be considered for an award. An Applicant that is a Certified CDFI will be evaluated on the demonstrated need for TA funding to build the CDFI's capacity, further the Applicant's strategic goals, and achieve impact within the Applicant's Target Market. An Applicant that is an Emerging CDFI will be evaluated on the Applicant's demonstrated capability and plan to achieve CDFI certification within three years, or if a prior Recipient, the certification PG&M stated in its prior Assistance Agreement. An Applicant that is an Emerging CDFI will also be evaluated on its demonstrated need for TA funding to build the CDFI's capacity and further its strategic goals. The CDFI Fund will rate each part of the TA Business Plan Review as indicated in Table 17.

Each TA Application will be evaluated by one internal CDFI Fund reviewer. All Applications will be reviewed in accordance with CDFI Fund standard reviewer evaluation materials for the Business Plan Review.

The CDFI Fund conducts additional levels of due diligence for Applications that are under consideration for an award. This due diligence includes an analysis of programmatic and financial risk factors including, but not limited to, financial stability, history of performance in managing Federal awards (including timeliness of reporting and compliance), reports and findings from audits, and the Applicant's ability to effectively implement Federal requirements. The CDFI Fund will also evaluate the compliance risk of each Applicant using information provided in the Application as well as an Applicant's reporting history, reporting capacity, and performance risk with respect to the CDFI Fund's PG&Ms. Each Applicant will receive a Total Compliance Composite Score on a scale of one (1) to five (5), with one (1) being the highest rating. Applicants that receive an initial Total Compliance Composite Score of four (4) or five (5) will be re-evaluated by CDFI Fund staff. If the Applicant is deemed a high compliance risk after CDFI staff review, the Applicant will not be considered for an award. The CDFI Fund will also evaluate the Applicant's ability to meet certification criteria of being a legal entity and a non-government entity. Award amounts may be reduced as a result of the due diligence analysis in addition to consideration of the Applicant's funding request and similar factors. Lastly, the CDFI Fund may consider the geographic diversity of Applicants when making its funding decisions.

6. Regulated Institutions: The CDFI Fund will consider safety and soundness information from the Appropriate Federal or State Banking Agency. If the Applicant is a CDFI Depository Institution Holding Company, the CDFI Fund will consider information provided by the Appropriate Federal or State Banking Agencies about both the CDFI Depository Institution Holding Company and the Certified CDFI Subsidiary Insured Depository Institution that will expend and carry out the award. If the Appropriate Federal or State Banking Agency identifies safety and soundness concerns (including any concerns for Subsidiary Depository Institutions carrying out the activities of an award on behalf of a CDFI Depository Institution Holding Company), the CDFI Fund will assess whether such concerns cause or will cause the Applicant to be incapable of undertaking the activities for which funding has been requested.

7. Non-Regulated Institutions: The CDFI Fund must ensure, to the maximum extent practicable, that Recipients which are non-regulated CDFIs are financially and managerially sound, and maintain appropriate internal controls (12 U.S.C. 4707(f)(1)(A) and 12 CFR 1805.800(b)). Further, the CDFI Fund must determine that an Applicant's capacity to operate as a CDFI and its continued viability will not be dependent upon assistance from the CDFI Fund (12 U.S.C. 4704(b)(2)(A)). If it is determined that the Applicant is incapable of meeting these requirements, the CDFI Fund reserves the right to deem the Applicant ineligible or terminate the award.

B. Anticipated Award Announcement: The CDFI Fund anticipates making CDFI Program award announcement before September 30, 2022. However, the anticipated award Announcement Date is subject to change without notice.

C. Application Rejection: The CDFI Fund reserves the right to reject an Application if information (including administrative errors) comes to the CDFI Fund's attention that: Adversely affects an Applicant's eligibility for an award; adversely affects the Recipient's certification as a CDFI (to the extent that the award is conditional upon CDFI certification); adversely affects the CDFI Fund's evaluation or scoring of an Application; or indicates fraud or mismanagement on the Applicant's part. If the CDFI Fund determines any portion of the Application is incorrect in a material respect, the CDFI Fund reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to reject the Application. The CDFI Fund reserves the right to change its eligibility and evaluation criteria and procedures, if the CDFI Fund deems it appropriate. If the changes materially affect the CDFI Fund's award decisions, the CDFI Fund will provide information about the changes through its website. The CDFI Fund's award decisions are final, and there is no right to appeal decisions.

D. External Non-CDFI Fund Reviewers: All external non-CDFI Fund reviewers are selected based on criteria that includes a professional background in community and economic development finance, and experience reviewing the financial statements of all CDFI institution types. Reviewers must complete the CDFI Fund's conflict of interest process and be approved by the CDFI Fund. The CDFI Fund's Application reader conflict of interest policy is located on the CDFI Fund's website.

VI. Federal Award Administration Information

A. Award Notification: Each successful Applicant will receive an email “notice of award” notification from the CDFI Fund stating that its Application has been approved for an award. Each Applicant not selected for an award will receive an email stating that a debriefing notice has been provided in its AMIS account.

B. Assistance Agreement: Each Applicant selected to receive an award must enter into an Assistance Agreement with the CDFI Fund in order to receive a payment(s). The Assistance Agreement will set forth the award's terms and conditions, including but not be limited to the: (i) Award amount; (ii) award type; (iii) award uses; (iv) eligible use of funds; (v) PG&Ms; and (vi) reporting requirements. FA Assistance Agreements have three-year Periods of Performance. TA Assistance Agreements have two-year Period of Performance for Certified CDFIs and three-year Periods of Performance for Emerging CDFIs.

1. Certificate of Good Standing: All FA and TA Recipients that are not Regulated Institutions will be required to provide the CDFI Fund with a certificate of good standing from the secretary of state for the Recipient's jurisdiction of formation prior to closing. This certificate can often be acquired online on the secretary of state website for the Recipient's jurisdiction of formation and must generally be dated within 180 days prior to the Federal Award Date of the Assistance Agreement. Due to potential backlogs in state government offices, Applicants are advised to submit requests for certificates of good standing no later than 60 days after they submit their Applications.

2. Closing: Pursuant to the Assistance Agreement, there will be an initial closing at which point the Assistance Agreement and related documents will be properly executed and delivered, and an initial payment of FA or TA may be made. FA Recipients that are subject to the Matching Funds requirement will not receive a payment until 100% of their Matching Funds are In-Hand. The first payment is the estimated amount of the award that the Recipient states in its Application that it will use for eligible FA or TA activities in the first 12 months after the award announcement. The CDFI Fund reserves the right to increase the first payment amount on any award to ensure that any subsequent payments are at least $25,000 for FA and $5,000 for TA awards.

The CDFI Fund will minimize the time between the Recipient incurring costs for eligible activities and award payment(s) in accordance with the Uniform Requirements. Advanced payments for eligible activities will occur no more than one year in advance of the Recipient incurring costs for the eligible activities. Following the initial closing, there may be subsequent closings involving additional award payments. Any documentation in addition to the Assistance Agreement that is connected with such subsequent closings and payments shall be properly executed and timely delivered by the Recipient to the CDFI Fund.

3. Requirements Prior to Entering into an Assistance Agreement: If, prior to entering into an Assistance Agreement, information (including administrative errors) comes to the CDFI Fund's attention that: Adversely affects the Recipient's eligibility for an award; adversely affects the Recipient's certification as a CDFI (to the extent that the award is conditional upon CDFI certification); adversely affects the CDFI Fund's evaluation of the Application; indicates that the Recipient is not in compliance with any requirement listed in the Uniform Requirements; indicates that the Recipient is not in compliance with a term or condition of any prior award from the CDFI Fund; indicates the Recipient has failed to execute and return a prior round Assistance Agreement to the CDFI Fund within the CDFI Fund's deadlines; or indicates fraud or mismanagement on the Recipient's part, the CDFI Fund may, in its discretion and without advance notice to the Recipient, terminate the award or take such other actions as it deems appropriate. The CDFI Fund reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to rescind an award if the Recipient fails to return the Assistance Agreement, signed by the Authorized Representative of the Recipient, and/or provide the CDFI Fund with any requested documentation, within the CDFI Fund's deadlines.

In addition, the CDFI Fund reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to terminate and rescind the Assistance Agreement and the award made under this NOFA pending the criteria described in the following table:

C. Reporting

1. Reporting requirements: On an annual basis during the Period of Performance, the CDFI Fund may collect information from each Recipient including, but not limited to, an Annual Report with the following components (Annual Reporting Requirements):

Each Recipient is responsible for the timely and complete submission of the Annual Reporting Requirements. The CDFI Fund reserves the right to contact the Recipient and additional entities or signatories to the Assistance Agreement to request additional information and/or documentation. The CDFI Fund will use such information to monitor each Recipient's compliance with the requirements of the Assistance Agreement and to assess the impact of the CDFI Program. The CDFI Fund reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to modify these reporting requirements, including increasing the scope and frequency of reporting, if it determines it to be appropriate and necessary; however, such reporting requirements will be modified only after notice to Recipients.

2. Financial Management and Accounting: The CDFI Fund will require Recipients to maintain financial management and accounting systems that comply with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award. These systems must be sufficient to permit the preparation of reports required by the CDFI Fund to ensure compliance with the terms and conditions of the CDFI Program, including the tracing of funds to a level of expenditures adequate to establish that such funds have been used in accordance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award.

The cost principles used by Recipients must be consistent with Federal cost principles and support the accumulation of costs as required by the principles, and must provide for adequate documentation to support costs charged to the CDFI Program award. In addition, the CDFI Fund will require Recipients to: Maintain effective internal controls; comply with applicable statutes, regulations, and the Assistance Agreement; evaluate and monitor compliance; take appropriate action when not in compliance; and safeguard personally identifiable information.

VII. Agency Contacts

A. The CDFI Fund will respond to questions concerning this NOFA and the Application between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time, starting on the date that the NOFA is published through the date listed in Table 1 and Table 12. The CDFI Fund strongly recommends Applicants submit questions to the CDFI Fund via an AMIS Service Request to the CDFI Program, Office of Compliance Monitoring and Evaluation, Office of Certification Policy and Evaluation, or IT Help Desk. The CDFI Fund will post on its website responses to reoccurring questions received about the NOFA and Application. Other information regarding the CDFI Fund and its programs may be obtained from the CDFI Fund's website at http://www.cdfifund.gov. Table 20 lists CDFI Fund contact information:

B. Information Technology Support: For IT assistance, the preferred method of contact is to submit a Service Request within AMIS. For the Service Request, select “Technical Issues” from the Program dropdown menu of the Service Request. People who have visual or mobility impairments that prevent them from using the CDFI Fund's website should call (202) 653-0422 for assistance (this is not a toll free number).

C. Communication with the CDFI Fund: The CDFI Fund will use the contact information in AMIS to communicate with Applicants and Recipients. It is imperative, therefore, that Applicants, Recipients, Subsidiaries, Affiliates, and signatories maintain accurate contact information in their accounts. This includes information such as contact names (especially for the Authorized Representative), email addresses, fax and phone numbers, and office locations.

D. Civil Rights and Diversity: Any person who is eligible to receive benefits or services from the CDFI Fund or Recipients under any of its programs is entitled to those benefits or services without being subject to prohibited discrimination. The Department of the Treasury's Office of Civil Rights and Diversity enforces various Federal statutes and regulations that prohibit discrimination in financially assisted and conducted programs and activities of the CDFI Fund. If a person believes that s/he has been subjected to discrimination and/or reprisal because of membership in a protected group, s/he may file a complaint with: Associate Chief Human Capital Officer, Office of Civil Rights, and Diversity, 1500 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20220 or (202) 622-1160 (not a toll-free number).

E. Statutory and National Policy Requirements: The CDFI Fund will manage and administer the Federal award in a manner so as to ensure that Federal funding is expended and associated programs are implemented in full accordance with the U.S. Constitution, Federal Law, statutory, and public policy requirements: Including but not limited to, those protecting free speech, religious liberty, public welfare, the environment, and prohibiting discrimination.

VIII. Other Information

A. Paperwork Reduction Act: Under the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. chapter 35), an agency may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information, and an individual is not required to respond to a collection of information, unless it displays a valid OMB control number. If applicable, the CDFI Fund may inform Applicants that they do not need to provide certain Application information otherwise required. Pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act, the CDFI Program, and NACA Program Application has been assigned the following control number: 1559-0021, inclusive of PPC-FA, DF-FA, and HFFI-FA.

B. Application Information Sessions: The CDFI Fund may conduct webinars or host information sessions for organizations that are considering applying to, or are interested in learning about, the CDFI Fund's programs. For further information, visit the CDFI Fund's website at http://www.cdfifund.gov.

Authority: 12 U.S.C. 4701, et seq.; 12 CFR parts 1805 and 1815; 2 CFR part 200.